"Big brother, do you think that kid is an idiot? Doesn't even know how strong he is. Does he really think he's won?" On a small boat in the distance opposite the Conch Ship, three pirates became visible as the fog cleared.
The leader was tall and thin, wearing the Hidden Mist headband of a rogue ninja, while the other two, though scattered ninjas, were clearly not ordinary.
This pirate group only had three members, and their boat was tiny.
In the ninja world, jutsu skill determines strength. Even if a group is large or has a big ship, low-skilled ninja aboard will be completely defeated.
So, despite being just three, a pirate group capable of appearing on this vast sea in such a small boat is terrifying.
Hearing the voices, Tensei slowly turned, his neck feeling as if something had choked it. After a long moment, he fearfully took in the scene before him.
Thousands of meters behind him, countless octopus tentacles writhed threateningly. The one he had just killed was only a single creature, and countless others surrounded him!
Not only that, one of the tentacles had latched onto his thigh, leaving it numb and painfully sore. To keep up his "cool" image, he had pretended it wasn't a big deal.
But now he had only killed one and struggled so much—how could he handle the rest? And who knew how many more were under the water?
His legs shook as he glanced back at the Conch Ship.
Everyone on board stared at him eagerly; they had seen him as a hero before, but now… what was he going to do?
"Kuri? Akahana, captain, should we go together?" he stammered, his face pale. He wasn't stupid—he knew that even if they all joined, they couldn't defeat so many summoned sea creatures.
Akahana sighed lightly and turned to the captain. "What should we do?"
"We have no choice but to fight," the captain said.
The Star Ninja Village ninjas jumped from the ship and engaged the summoned sea monsters.
Tensei floated high above, merely watching. He was in agony from the tentacle's attack; the suction cups felt poisonous. His legs shook uncontrollably, yet he kept up his arrogant facade.
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be strong? Why aren't you helping? Scared?" Kijimaru shouted from the ship, brandishing his Niitani fork, glaring at Tensei.
This guy even threw a child into the sea—was he human? Was his mind twisted?
"Why I go or not is none of your business! If it's too risky, forget about this pay—I'm not dying for you guys," Tensei shouted from the air, shocking everyone.
The four ninjas fighting in the sea were enraged. Tensei was always reckless; how could he say something like that?
Captain Kurein leaned on the ship's window. "Star Ninja Village ninjas, you can't abandon your duty! We have a contract—your mission is to get us safely to port! You can't just take the money and run when pirates appear!"
Tensei shouted, "Even if you all die, that's just a mission failure! I won't die for you!" His upside-down-triangle eyes glimmered with selfish scheming, his voice hysterical and narrow-minded.
The four other ninjas were furious.
Tensei completely ignored reality. Could he really escape at this moment? He depended on the meteor from Star Ninja Village to survive; he needed to absorb its powder regularly. Had his arrogance made him forget?
Although they wanted to scold Tensei, there was no time; waves of sea monsters left no breathing room.
Three of the ninjas were nearly overwhelmed, and Tensei—the only upper-rank ninja—was still arguing in the air.
Akahana was in even more danger. Three sea monsters attacked her; if she hadn't been fast, her head might already be gone. She was barely holding on.
"Ah!" The monsters were relentless. She had just driven away two with Suiton (Water Release), only to have more attack. Their sharp teeth and eight writhing tentacles cornered her. Her arm had already been bitten; pain slowed her down. Escape seemed impossible.
Just as she was about to give up, a bright light appeared. A child suddenly grabbed her wrist, and the approaching monster exploded from inside like a wooden bomb—instantly dead and sinking. She was saved.
Other tentacles rushed from all directions, but Hyuga Shigeo stepped forward, holding Akahana and rising above the sea.
"That's the kid?"
"He's not dead!"
"He can fly?"
Shouts of surprise rang from the ship. Even the other Star Ninja Village ninjas looked at him in amazement—he had saved Akahana!
Tensei's eyebrows furrowed. How could he be here after he thought the kid was eaten? How was his ability so strong? What jutsu was that? Incredible!
Tensei was an upper-rank ninja, capable of Peacock Technique, one of the few who had mastered it in Star Ninja Village. This explained his dominance and twisted personality, tolerated by the village.
Kijimaru shouted excitedly, "Great, keep it up!" seeing Hyuga Shigeo floating above the sea.
He had expected a ninja, but not someone this strong—able to fly and instantly defeat a sea monster.
The Star Ninja Village Tensei had struggled to kill just one sea monster; in comparison, this child was leagues ahead.
(End of Chapter)
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